Web Resources
What You Can Do
For Biologists
Web Resources
For the latest information and recommendations on West Nile Virus, please visit or download:
Abstracts from two recent conferences on WNV can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/conf/February_2003.htm (which focuses on public health) and at http://www.serc.si.edu/migratorybirds/current_events_fin.htm.(which focuses on animal health, and specifically birds).
What to do if you find a dead bird whose cause of death is unknown:
Report dead birds to 877-WNV-BIRD and do not handle dead birds without protection. Public officials need help with dead bird surveillance, which looks to be the best early warning of potential human disease or incipient epizootic (outbreak in birds and other animals), so if you find a dead bird whose cause of death is unknown (ie didn't hit window, wasn't killed by a cat, doesn't appear to have a broken neck, or any other obvious injury, report it to the hotline, 877-WNV-BIRDS and someone will be sent out to pick up the dead bird if it has died recently. Do not pick up dead birds suspected of dying of West Nile Virus. Call the hotline and they will come and pick the dead bird up. Call 877-WNV-BIRDS and get instructions.
General recommendations to reduce the threat of West Nile Virus near you:
Make sure window and door screens are "bug tight." Repair or replace if needed.
When possible, stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are the most active.
Wear a long sleeve shirt, long pants, and a hat when going into mosquito-infested areas, particularly in wetlands or woods.
Use a mosquito repellant containing DEET, and carefully follow directions on the label.
Empty anything that holds standing water-old tires, buckets, plastic covers, and toys.
Change water in your birdbaths, fountains, wading pools and animal troughs weekly.
Recycle unused containers-bottles, cans, and buckets that may collect water.
Make sure roof gutters drain properly, and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
Fix leaky outdoor faucets and sprinklers.
PRBO guidelines for field staff, interns, volunteers, and other field biologists working with birds:
Below are PRBO’s guidelines for handling birds with respect to the spread of West Nile Virus. Special thanks to Karl Malamud-Roam of the Contra Costa Mosquito Control District for providing much of this information. As more information becomes available, these guidelines will be updated.
1) USE INSECT REPELLENT AND WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: PRBO recommends that staff, interns and volunteers take steps to reduce exposure to mosquitoes. PRBO recommends the use of insect repellent when working in the field, particularly at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active. DEET is best and 20-25% is as good as higher concentrations, with fewer potential problems. We also recommend wearing a long sleeved shirt, long pants and a hat to reduce exposure to mosquitoes.
2) USE GLOVES AND WASH FREQUENTLY WHEN HANDLING LIVE BIRDS: PRBO recommends the use of gloves by staff, interns and volunteers that handle obviously ill live birds. We also suggest that it is wise to use gloves when handling apparently healthy birds, but this is up to each staff person to decide. Be particularly careful with exposure to body fluids of the birds (including blood, saliva and feces).
*Wash your hands frequently when handling live birds.
*All field staff, interns and volunteers are urged to bring along to the field wet wipes with alcohol or soap and/or soapy water and towels to clean hands frequently when handling live birds.
*When using gloves, remember to wash the outside of the gloves well with soap and water after handling birds (especially corvids and raptors).
3) REPORT DEAD BIRDS to 877-WNV-BIRD AND DO NOT HANDLE DEAD BIRDS WITHOUT PROTECTION: Public officials need help with dead bird surveillance, which looks to be the best early warning of potential human disease or incipient epizootic (outbreak in birds and other animals), so trained people such as PRBO staff, interns and volunteers are encouraged to get involved, but do take appropriate precautions if you do.
If you find a dead bird that appears to have died within approximately 24 hours and is still mostly intact (has not decayed and appears to have died from disease, not predation, being hit by a car or the like), please call 877-WNV-BIRDS and someone will be sent out to pick up the dead bird. If you as a PRBO employee, intern or volunteer collects the bird handle it with latex gloves, bag it, but do not put it in the freezer.
Do not handle dead birds without protection such as from latex gloves. If you must handle dead birds, use gloves and double-bag the specimens. Call 877-WNV-BIRDS and get instructions.
See also these recommendations for biologists and fact sheet from Birdnet.
